East Africa is comprised of many semi-arid lands that are characterized by insufficient rainfall ... more East Africa is comprised of many semi-arid lands that are characterized by insufficient rainfall and the frequent occurrence of droughts. Drought, overgrazing and other impacts due to human activity may cause a decline in vegetation cover, which may result in land degradation. This study aimed to assess drought occurrence, vegetation cover changes and vegetation resilience in the Monduli and Longido districts in northern Tanzania. Satellite-derived data of rainfall, temperature and vegetation cover were used. Monthly precipitation (CenTrends v1.0 extended with CHIRPS2.0) and monthly mean temperatures (CRU TS4.03) were collected for the period of 1940–2020. Eight-day maximum value composite data of the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) (NOAA CDR—AVHRR) were obtained for the period of 1981–2020. Based on the meteorological data, trends in rainfall, temperature and drought were determined. The NDVI data were used to determine changes in vegetation cover and vegetation resil...
The Baga Watershed as used in this study comprises of six villages namely: Kwekitui, Kwadoe, Dule... more The Baga Watershed as used in this study comprises of six villages namely: Kwekitui, Kwadoe, Dule, Mbelei, Kwehangala and Kwalei. Social-economic and biophysical characterization of the watershed was carried to obtain baseline data for future research and development activities geared towards community development. Participatory rural appraisal (using tools such as resources mapping, historical trends and seasonal calendar), questionnaires, group discussion and key informants were used to collect social-economic data. Biophysical data collection involved physical mapping using “geographical information systems” equipment to map the boundaries of different villages, water sources, land use patterns and different hot spots. Results show that the Baga Watershed has a total land area of 6,006 ha with a population of 13,163 of which men are 6,763 and women are 7,375. Three resource-endowed categories were identified based on criteria put forward by farmers. The high resource endowed cate...
The main objective of APPRI Workshop was to analyse conditions for implementing alternative actio... more The main objective of APPRI Workshop was to analyse conditions for implementing alternative action-research practices in partnership for development, taking into account the difficulties of "official" research and of the rural world, faced with the major challenges of sustainable development in the South. One originality of APPRI was to compare experiences from rural zones of Africa, with those of the UNICAMPO Peasants' University set up 10 years ago in the Brazilian Nordeste, a semi-arid region where small holders' farms exhibit some major similarities with those in Drylands Africa. The "Peasants' University" concept was unanimously chosen as a place to unify partnership initiatives bringing together research, rural development officers, farmer's organizations and rural communities. These Peasants' Universities will be places of learning where a common vision is shared for implementing development and environmental improvement activities. The...
Despite their concern about declining soil fertility, farmers from the Tanzanian village of Kwale... more Despite their concern about declining soil fertility, farmers from the Tanzanian village of Kwalei use very little mineral fertiliser to improve their crop yields. A PRA study in this benchmark site for the African Highland Initiative (AHI) revealed that although this type of input was available, it was considered too expensive for widespread use. As their livestock could not produce enough farmyard manure for their needs, farmers coped by using the leaves of certain local shrubs as green manure, which seemed to improve soil fertility when ploughed into the fields. However, although they based their soil fertility management strategies on these shrubs, researchers and extension workers did not know their scientific name or nutrient content, and it was agreed that an inventory should be made of this important local source of nutrients. Farmers identified seven shrubs that seemed to improve the nutrient content and workability of the surrounding soil, singling out one called tughutu (...
District-wide soil erosion studies in Tanzania are few and their inadequacy denies policy and adm... more District-wide soil erosion studies in Tanzania are few and their inadequacy denies policy and administrative personnel a useful tool for erosion control. We assessed soil erosion in Lushoto district northeastern Tanzania using Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE)-model. The study covered 3411 km 2 , 152 villages, and 31 additional random locations. GIS techniques, field surveys, participatory techniques and modelling were used to collect data. For USLE modelling, we estimated rainfall erosivity (R-factor) from local rainfall records, soil erodibility (K-factor) from soil properties, slope length and steepness (LS-factor) from ASTER-DEM (30 m) satellite digital elevation model (DEM) of 2009, vegetation cover and management (C-factor) and support practices (P-factors) from local people. Statistical data was analysed by " Statistix 10 " software using Complete Randomised Design whereby administrative divisions of Lushoto were treated as replications while USLE parameters plus selected biophysical features were regarded as treatments. Results show a high soil loss of 29.7 tons ha-1 yr.-1 for the district. Using soil loss tolerance criteria, we conclude that 26 % of Lushoto district is severely eroded (soil losses at 48.3 tons ha-1 yr.-1), 24 % is highly eroded (28.1 tons ha-1 yr.-1) and, 19% of district is lowly eroded (7.1 tons ha-1 yr.-1). These results make Lushoto among the highly eroded districts in Tanzania. The study recommends up scaling and sustaining sustainable land management (SLM) already adopted in one of its divisions in order to reduce current soil losses by 80%.
District-wide soil erosion studies in Tanzania are few and their inadequacy denies policy and adm... more District-wide soil erosion studies in Tanzania are few and their inadequacy denies policy and administrative personnel a useful tool for erosion control. We assessed soil erosion in Lushoto district northeastern Tanzania using Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE)-model. The study covered 3411 km 2 , 152 villages, and 31 additional random locations. GIS techniques, field surveys, participatory techniques and modelling were used to collect data. For USLE modelling, we estimated rainfall erosivity (R-factor) from local rainfall records, soil erodibility (K-factor) from soil properties, slope length and steepness (LS-factor) from ASTER-DEM (30 m) satellite digital elevation model (DEM) of 2009, vegetation cover and management (C-factor) and support practices (P-factors) from local people. Statistical data was analysed by " Statistix 10 " software using Complete Randomised Design whereby administrative divisions of Lushoto were treated as replications while USLE parameters plus selected biophysical features were regarded as treatments. Results show a high soil loss of 29.7 tons ha-1 yr.-1 for the district. Using soil loss tolerance criteria, we conclude that 26 % of Lushoto district is severely eroded (soil losses at 48.3 tons ha-1 yr.-1), 24 % is highly eroded (28.1 tons ha-1 yr.-1) and, 19% of district is lowly eroded (7.1 tons ha-1 yr.-1). These results make Lushoto among the highly eroded districts in Tanzania. The study recommends up scaling and sustaining sustainable land management (SLM) already adopted in one of its divisions in order to reduce current soil losses by 80%.
East Africa is comprised of many semi-arid lands that are characterized by insufficient rainfall ... more East Africa is comprised of many semi-arid lands that are characterized by insufficient rainfall and the frequent occurrence of droughts. Drought, overgrazing and other impacts due to human activity may cause a decline in vegetation cover, which may result in land degradation. This study aimed to assess drought occurrence, vegetation cover changes and vegetation resilience in the Monduli and Longido districts in northern Tanzania. Satellite-derived data of rainfall, temperature and vegetation cover were used. Monthly precipitation (CenTrends v1.0 extended with CHIRPS2.0) and monthly mean temperatures (CRU TS4.03) were collected for the period of 1940–2020. Eight-day maximum value composite data of the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) (NOAA CDR—AVHRR) were obtained for the period of 1981–2020. Based on the meteorological data, trends in rainfall, temperature and drought were determined. The NDVI data were used to determine changes in vegetation cover and vegetation resil...
The Baga Watershed as used in this study comprises of six villages namely: Kwekitui, Kwadoe, Dule... more The Baga Watershed as used in this study comprises of six villages namely: Kwekitui, Kwadoe, Dule, Mbelei, Kwehangala and Kwalei. Social-economic and biophysical characterization of the watershed was carried to obtain baseline data for future research and development activities geared towards community development. Participatory rural appraisal (using tools such as resources mapping, historical trends and seasonal calendar), questionnaires, group discussion and key informants were used to collect social-economic data. Biophysical data collection involved physical mapping using “geographical information systems” equipment to map the boundaries of different villages, water sources, land use patterns and different hot spots. Results show that the Baga Watershed has a total land area of 6,006 ha with a population of 13,163 of which men are 6,763 and women are 7,375. Three resource-endowed categories were identified based on criteria put forward by farmers. The high resource endowed cate...
The main objective of APPRI Workshop was to analyse conditions for implementing alternative actio... more The main objective of APPRI Workshop was to analyse conditions for implementing alternative action-research practices in partnership for development, taking into account the difficulties of "official" research and of the rural world, faced with the major challenges of sustainable development in the South. One originality of APPRI was to compare experiences from rural zones of Africa, with those of the UNICAMPO Peasants' University set up 10 years ago in the Brazilian Nordeste, a semi-arid region where small holders' farms exhibit some major similarities with those in Drylands Africa. The "Peasants' University" concept was unanimously chosen as a place to unify partnership initiatives bringing together research, rural development officers, farmer's organizations and rural communities. These Peasants' Universities will be places of learning where a common vision is shared for implementing development and environmental improvement activities. The...
Despite their concern about declining soil fertility, farmers from the Tanzanian village of Kwale... more Despite their concern about declining soil fertility, farmers from the Tanzanian village of Kwalei use very little mineral fertiliser to improve their crop yields. A PRA study in this benchmark site for the African Highland Initiative (AHI) revealed that although this type of input was available, it was considered too expensive for widespread use. As their livestock could not produce enough farmyard manure for their needs, farmers coped by using the leaves of certain local shrubs as green manure, which seemed to improve soil fertility when ploughed into the fields. However, although they based their soil fertility management strategies on these shrubs, researchers and extension workers did not know their scientific name or nutrient content, and it was agreed that an inventory should be made of this important local source of nutrients. Farmers identified seven shrubs that seemed to improve the nutrient content and workability of the surrounding soil, singling out one called tughutu (...
District-wide soil erosion studies in Tanzania are few and their inadequacy denies policy and adm... more District-wide soil erosion studies in Tanzania are few and their inadequacy denies policy and administrative personnel a useful tool for erosion control. We assessed soil erosion in Lushoto district northeastern Tanzania using Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE)-model. The study covered 3411 km 2 , 152 villages, and 31 additional random locations. GIS techniques, field surveys, participatory techniques and modelling were used to collect data. For USLE modelling, we estimated rainfall erosivity (R-factor) from local rainfall records, soil erodibility (K-factor) from soil properties, slope length and steepness (LS-factor) from ASTER-DEM (30 m) satellite digital elevation model (DEM) of 2009, vegetation cover and management (C-factor) and support practices (P-factors) from local people. Statistical data was analysed by " Statistix 10 " software using Complete Randomised Design whereby administrative divisions of Lushoto were treated as replications while USLE parameters plus selected biophysical features were regarded as treatments. Results show a high soil loss of 29.7 tons ha-1 yr.-1 for the district. Using soil loss tolerance criteria, we conclude that 26 % of Lushoto district is severely eroded (soil losses at 48.3 tons ha-1 yr.-1), 24 % is highly eroded (28.1 tons ha-1 yr.-1) and, 19% of district is lowly eroded (7.1 tons ha-1 yr.-1). These results make Lushoto among the highly eroded districts in Tanzania. The study recommends up scaling and sustaining sustainable land management (SLM) already adopted in one of its divisions in order to reduce current soil losses by 80%.
District-wide soil erosion studies in Tanzania are few and their inadequacy denies policy and adm... more District-wide soil erosion studies in Tanzania are few and their inadequacy denies policy and administrative personnel a useful tool for erosion control. We assessed soil erosion in Lushoto district northeastern Tanzania using Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE)-model. The study covered 3411 km 2 , 152 villages, and 31 additional random locations. GIS techniques, field surveys, participatory techniques and modelling were used to collect data. For USLE modelling, we estimated rainfall erosivity (R-factor) from local rainfall records, soil erodibility (K-factor) from soil properties, slope length and steepness (LS-factor) from ASTER-DEM (30 m) satellite digital elevation model (DEM) of 2009, vegetation cover and management (C-factor) and support practices (P-factors) from local people. Statistical data was analysed by " Statistix 10 " software using Complete Randomised Design whereby administrative divisions of Lushoto were treated as replications while USLE parameters plus selected biophysical features were regarded as treatments. Results show a high soil loss of 29.7 tons ha-1 yr.-1 for the district. Using soil loss tolerance criteria, we conclude that 26 % of Lushoto district is severely eroded (soil losses at 48.3 tons ha-1 yr.-1), 24 % is highly eroded (28.1 tons ha-1 yr.-1) and, 19% of district is lowly eroded (7.1 tons ha-1 yr.-1). These results make Lushoto among the highly eroded districts in Tanzania. The study recommends up scaling and sustaining sustainable land management (SLM) already adopted in one of its divisions in order to reduce current soil losses by 80%.
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